[CES 07] New Antec Sonata III

rpsgc · Post by **rpsgc** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:00 pm

Also on CES, Antec showed the new Sonata III... the main external differences are a new front, with HD audio connectors and an eSATA connector! (besides the two regular USB connectors).

The other difference (this one on the inside) is the inclusion of an Antec Earthwatts 500W PSU.

It should be available next month with a price tag similar to the Sonata II.

Here it is... Sonata the third!

Earthwatts 500

Hmm... eSATA

Source: Matbe

mattcoz · Post by **mattcoz** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:14 pm

Never was much of a fan of the Sonata's looks, this is a big improvement imo.

roadie · Post by **roadie** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:24 am

The HDD cage is orientated in the wrong fashion for optimal airflow. Is this the case in the old Sonata?

kike_1974 · Post by **kike_1974** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:28 am

Yes, the original sonata has the same HDD cage orientation

StanF · Post by **StanF** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:34 am

I used to have one of the Sonata cases, and I really liked the orientation of the hard drives. It is easy to remove one drive without disconnecting EVERYTHING and then yanking out a drive cage. Thumbs up from me.

KorruptioN · Post by **KorruptioN** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:55 pm

The Sonata II came with the SmartPower 2.0 450W which wasn't known for being quiet nor reliable. Quite disappointing overall, to be honest. This Sonata III looks much nicer, especially with the EA-500 (a Seasonic design). I spy silicone mounts for the rear fan.

rpsgc · Post by **rpsgc** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:58 am

KorruptioN wrote:I spy silicone mounts for the rear fan.

You are correct.

kaange · Post by **kaange** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:57 pm

I wish they would make an upgrade of the SLK3000B with the front of the Sonata (or make a version of the Sonata with fore/aft HDD cage and no PSU).

Greg

Meato · Post by **Meato** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:34 pm

If the Sonata3 hits shelves at or slightly above the current Sonata2's price point, you are getting a quality $100 PSU + case for pennies on the dollar. That sells the Sonata3 to me.

I will be picking one up first week they are out most likely, although I may have to wait until the passive x1950s and C2D 4300 hit resalers to fill it with goodies. From the pictures of the Sonata3 and X1950PRO, it appears there will be ample room past the PCI-E bracket to accommodate the large heatsink and a large hex grill there on the side for warm air to exhaust. I too am a fan of the side-ways mounted HDs. The rear part of the cage will act as a mounting point for my 120mm fan (@5-7v) to blow fresh air past the x1950PRO.

Varun · Post by **Varun** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 7:34 pm

roadie wrote:The HDD cage is orientated in the wrong fashion for optimal airflow. Is this the case in the old Sonata?

Lets see you take a rectangle and you turn it lengthwise... tell me again how does this change the airflow? My Samsung runs at 29C in my Sonata.

I love the sideways drive sleds. It makes cable management a snap with the cables on the far side of the drives, and hard drive removal is incredibly easy. I don't know why everyone hasn't gone this way actually.

p.s. the Sonata III looks like an improvement on an already solid design. I would be happy if they moved the front fan before the hard drives though. My 8800GTS barely fits with the front fan installed.

kaange · Post by **kaange** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:27 pm

Meato wrote:If the Sonata3 hits shelves at or slightly above the current Sonata2's price point, you are getting a quality $100 PSU + case for pennies on the dollar. That sells the Sonata3 to me.

I'd still prefer to be able to choose my PSU. The high reported incidence of failure for the Antec Neo HEs (which are a step above the EarthWatts it seems) is rather offputting, let alone the number of failures reported with the cheaper Antec PSUs.

Varun wrote:Lets see you take a rectangle and you turn it lengthwise... tell me again how does this change the airflow? My Samsung runs at 29C in my Sonata.

The problem is that the sides of the cage are not as open as just having the front of the drives presented to the airflow. Plus the airflow to the drives themselves is interrupted as well.

Greg

Goldmember · Post by **Goldmember** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:33 am

The Sonata III must be arriving soon. Frys.com currently has the Sonata II on sale for $39.99 after rebate and free shipping.

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4470276

Antec is probably trying to clear out the old stock.

In addition to the new bezel, the best part of the Sonata III is that Earthwatts PSU .